The meeting of Putin and Abe: the Japanese will make Voronezh a city of the future

The meeting of Putin and Abe: the Japanese will make Voronezh a city of the future

27.04.2017

The Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe visited Moscow and met with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin. Following the talks was signed seven interdepartmental and inter-regional documents on Russian—Japanese cooperation. The Japanese side, in particular, has offered to turn Voronezh into the “smart city” as a pilot project of cooperation between the two countries in the field of the urban environment. The parties also discussed joint economic activities on the Kuril Islands and movement toward a peace Treaty.

photo: Natalia Gubernatorova

Putin positively assessed the results of the negotiations and said that the main theme for them was the conclusion of a peace Treaty, a step which is a joint economic activity of Russia and Japan on the Kuril Islands. “Agreed to continue joint work and to create in the near future the list of priority projects. — said the Russian President. — To explore specific opportunities for collaboration this summer will be organized a trip to the Southern Kuriles a group of Japanese officials and businessmen”.

“The Japanese and Russian citizens together to breed fish and sea urchins will develop unique to the Northern four Islands tourism using the rich nature, will increase the living standards, the convenience of living there are Russian citizens, — said Shinzo Abe. — Will also create many new opportunities for the Japanese, who will come and engage in economic activity.”

As reported by the Embassy of Japan in Russia, after the meeting was signed seven interdepartmental and inter-regional documents and 22 of the document between organizations. Among them was an agreement between the Administration of Krasnodar region and the Prefectural administration of the Prefecture on cooperation in the field of trade, economy, culture, sports, education, science and tourism and a Memorandum on developing cooperation in the spheres of construction, housing and communal services and the urban environment.

The Japanese side, in particular, Putin was also shown a video that outlines a plan for turning Voronezh (as a trial site) in the city of the future. The Japanese propose to overcome the tube by means of the system of intelligent traffic signals, to build a “healthy housing” with high insulation and re-plan the urban environment.

“I would have appreciated the outcome of the negotiations soberly and moderately, — said in an interview with “MK” leading researcher of the research Center Japan Institute for Far Eastern studies Viktor Pavlyatenko. — The meeting was not a landmark, rather, it is “reconciliation of hours”, a confirmation of the willingness of both sides to implement the agreements that were reached in December last year during the visit of our President to Japan. Nothing new, there is only a certain specification, primarily on the joint development of the Kuril Islands, which is regarded by the Japanese as an important step in achieving the positive for Japan’s results in the conclusion of a peace Treaty, that is, the solution of the territorial issue in their favor. While I don’t see any progress, but the parties are to establish the foundations and preconditions for further cooperation.”

Read the report: Threat of war with North Korea influenced the talks between Putin and Abe